3 Easter Photos You Absolutely Can’t Miss

These easy Easter photo tips from Meg of Snap Happy Mom will help you take good pictures, no matter what kind of camera you use. Document springtime with her advice and get your free photography checklist below!

One of my best tips for photographing children is to take lots of different kinds of shots of the same event. No one wants every picture on their camera roll to be the same.

But, if you keep shooting the same, you’re going to getting the same type of pictures. For instance, if you always stand about the same distance away from your child, and they always smile at your camera eventually all your pictures will have that same look to them.

Instead, try thinking about photography as storytelling, and use your camera to tell a story differently each time. It doesn’t matter what kind of camera you have – you can still use it creatively.

Easter Egg Hunts are a yearly tradition for many people. They are a great place to practice taking better pictures, because they are low pressure for moms, have lots of colors and creative opportunities, and still really fun for kids.

3 Easter Photos You’ll Want to Capture

So here are the three core shots I recommend getting during an Easter Egg Hunt, to tell a better story. These same principles apply to many situations, but we’ll use an Easter Egg Hunt as the example today.

1. The Action Shot

Start with the action shots. The beginning of and egg hunt is all about the thrill of discovery. For this type of picture, it’s better if your child is NOT looking at the camera – let them find eggs, and you get to follow them around and document it! Instead of asking them to pose, look for opportunities when they are climbing or reaching for an Easter egg, and capture those. The look of determination or delight on their face will make these images the most memorable.

This moment is also your chance to be creative with composition. Try framing your child with playground equipment, or using leading lines or repetitive elements. Remember, shoot fast and don’t ask them to pose – just keep moving around and seeing what they do next for the best action shots.

2. The Details Shot

Sometimes the details shots are the easiest way to tell a story. They simplify the photo just to show one detail of a particular story – a detail that might be overlooked otherwise.

I recommend getting a lot close to your subject and just photographing the details up close. A zoom lens is helpful to get closer to your subject without invading their personal space, but it’s not necessary! You can start with their clothing and accessories: a new headband, their shoes, a bow tie, or the details on a dress. You can also just focus on their hands, and what those busy fingers are doing – grabbing an egg, stealing some candy, or carrying a basket.

It’s also nice to try changing your angle – you can get low or try standing on a bench and shooting down at your child from overhead to get a different point of view. Again, it is not necessary to have your child look at you in any of these photos. These details just help tell the story. Details shots are one of the things I recommend on this FREE printable spring photo checklist!

3. The Winner Shot (AKA: The Loot!)

The end of the egg hunt is a great moment to document. It’s the perfect chance to take a great picture of all that loot! I find it works best to take a picture before they open up all their eggs and eat the candy. Try having the child hold their basket out to you so you can see the content. It works with them looking at your or their basket. So cute!

You can also get a group shot of siblings, cousins, or friends together for a group shot – it’s always fun to see all the kids together.

This classic group shot is the picture most people take at an egg hunt – and I DO think you should capture it. Just don’t forget all the other creative opportunities before the end of the egg hunt.

Bonus: Lighting Tips

Many communities schedule Easter egg hunts on sunny morning or afternoon. It can be HARD to shoot in because of the direct sunlight and harsh shadows. You have a couple of options to combat this…

First, if the egg hunt is held in a large area with varied lighting, choose to search in an area with open shade. Take your pictures under a large tree, in the shade of a building, or under a pavilion overhang.
Or, consider having your own Easter egg hunt on your own terms. Hosting yourself is usually better anyway because it’s easier to shoot without a ton of people all trying to do the same thing. If it’s overcast, you can have your shoot at any time of day, since flat, cloudy days give simple, easy lighting. If the sky doesn’t have a cloud in sight, then wait until the late afternoon, about an hour before sunset, when the light is softer, and the shadows don’t distract as much. Then, just watch which direction you shoot!

Free SPRING Photo Checklist

Now you have some Easter photo ideas – but there’s plenty more to document in spring!

Snap Happy Mom is dedicated to helping moms (and Dads!) learn how to take better pictures of their families. Meg wants you to have pictures that matter to them, and that capture those precious moments of parenting and childhood. No matter what kind of camera you have or how experienced you are, she can help you feel more comfortable behind that camera.